Oliver Glasner will return to familiar surroundings this Sunday when his Nottingham Forest side travel to Selhurst Park to face the club he guided to unprecedented glory, Crystal Palace.
The Austrian departed Palace at the end of June after his contract expired, bringing to a close a spell that will be remembered as one of the most successful in the club's history. Glasner arrived in south-east London in February 2024 and quickly transformed the Eagles into genuine silverware contenders, culminating in a historic FA Cup triumph over Manchester City in the 2025 final - Palace's first major trophy.
He then added further continental pedigree by leading Palace to Conference League glory, beating Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in the final in Leipzig. That victory represented the club's third trophy in just 12 months under his stewardship, cementing his legacy among supporters.
What makes Glasner's exit all the more striking is the context surrounding it. Just a year earlier, Palace had been denied their rightful place in the Europa League - a reward for winning the FA Cup - after a protracted legal battle with UEFA. The governing body ultimately ruled in favour of multi-club ownership restrictions, with Nottingham Forest inheriting Palace's Europa League spot instead. Only a week after his Palace contract officially ended, Glasner stunned many by taking charge at the City Ground, joining the very club that had benefited from that ruling.
The decision has left Palace fans divided ahead of his return. While many continue to express gratitude for the trophies he delivered, there is clear disappointment among sections of the fanbase that he has now aligned himself with Forest.
Social media has become a platform for supporters to air their mixed emotions. One fan wrote that Glasner "deserves a great reception to give our thanks for his and the club's achievements," reflecting a widely held sentiment of appreciation despite the circumstances of his departure. Another supporter admitted conflicting feelings, stating they "hate" that he joined Forest but still "love the man for what he achieved" at Palace.
Not every fan has been so forgiving, however. Tensions had already surfaced during Glasner's final months in charge, when he reportedly came close to walking away from the club earlier in the year, shortly after confirming his intention to leave at season's end. That period left a lasting impression on some supporters, with one critic writing on social media that Glasner "lost me in that last year when he started sprouting all sorts of rubbish to protect brand Glasner."
Despite the goodwill he built up by delivering the Conference League trophy, it appears a minority of fans remain unconvinced about his motives and conduct during his final weeks at the helm.
On the pitch, neither club has enjoyed a strong start to the new season. Both Palace and Forest have managed just a single win from their opening five league fixtures, adding extra significance to Sunday's meeting as both managers look to kickstart their campaigns.
For Glasner, the emotional pull of facing his former club will be matched by a determination to get one over his old employers and prove that his switch to the City Ground can deliver similar success to what he achieved at Selhurst Park.
Based on reporting from standard-football.